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There’s no place like home for the holidays, but not for cosmetic procedures

A registered nurse in Perth, Australia, Tiffany Fraser thought she could start a cottage industry, injecting clients with Botox and Juvederm in the privacy of her home. ABC News, Australia, December 10th, reports that this is the first small business of its kind detected in Australia.

Fraser is now being investigated by the West Australian Health Department and her clients are being tested for blood-borne viruses. After investigating Fraser’s home, health officials were not able to rule out the risk of a possible infection control breach – a breach that could expose Fraser’s clients to hepatitis B, C and the HIV virus. Fraser had 33 clients known to the authorities; they were all notified that they should be tested by their general practitioners.

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The Australian Chief Health Officer, Dr. Weeramanthri, makes this point: “If you go to your local doctor and get an injection, it has to be sterile, the skin has to be cleaned, and a new needle and new syringes have to be used. There’s a whole system built around making sure that one person’s blood isn’t making contact with another person.” Outside of a medical setting there are no guarantees that such a system exists.

RN’s like Fraser are not allowed to administer or prescribe these injections in Australia without a doctor’s supervision. Both Botox and Juvederm are prescription only and must be prescribed by a doctor. Weeramanthri further argues that a normal healthcare practice has a whole lot of safeguards, including emergency measures to save you if you have an allergic reaction.

Other dangers of getting cosmetic injections in an inappropriate setting include being injected with a lethal or dangerous substance, getting no results, or getting poor results, such as a droopy lid or a bruised appearance. Aside from safety concerns one needs sophisticated anatomical training and experience to know where and how to inject Botox.

Hopefully, publicity around this event will serve as a reminder to get cosmetic injections in an appropriate medical setting by a practitioner who is board-certified in an appropriate specialty.

Thank you for sharing this news with the EmpowHER community. I can see an individual seeking out this type of "cottage" medical industry thinking she will save some money, but in reality, is putting her health at risk.

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